5 trapped Assam mine workers yet to be found as dewatering continues

Guwahati: Authorities claimed on Wednesday that they have not been able to locate the five workers who have been trapped in the coal quarry for ten days while dewatering is continuing in the Dima Hasao district of Assam.

The water level has significantly decreased since the ONGC and Coal India brought machinery to pump water out of the mine.

Dewatering is being carried out with the help of nine pumps while six others are on standby, the official said, PTI reported.

Nine workers had been trapped inside the mine on January 6 when the quarry was flooded. Four bodies were recovered since then, PTI reported.

The water level, which was initially at 100 ft, is coming down gradually and the current level is being ascertained, he said.

Divers will go inside the quarry only after the water level recedes to search for the trapped miners.

The four bodies were found floating on the water with navy, army and NDRF divers bringing them out.

The first body was recovered last Wednesday and three others on Saturday.

Navy divers who were requisitioned for rescue operations since the second day of the tragedy have been withdrawn and moved out of the incident site, an official said.

The rescue operations were being carried out jointly by the army, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF and district administration since the first day.

'The hope of survival of the remaining trapped miners appears to be waning as they remain trapped for the ninth day but the rescue operations will continue," the official said.

An underwater Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) is also being sent inside the quarry at regular intervals to capture images of the trapped miner, the official added.

The chief minister had earlier claimed that the mine was abandoned 12 years ago and was under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation till three years ago.